Comb for brood chambers and shallow extracting supers



- H. L. CHESS, 1R. 4 MB FOR BROGD CHAMBERS AND SHALLOW EXT RACTING SUPERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. I921.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922. 2

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE. HURVE L. GRESS JR., OF GINOINNATI, OH IO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO EDGAR W. HOUSE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, AND ONE-THIRD 'IO ROBERT E. WARDLOW, OF GIN- GINNATI, OHIO.

COMB FOR BROOD CHAMBERS AND SHALLOW EXTRACTING SUPERS- I To all whom it mag concern .Be it known that I, HURVE L. Crass, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combs for Brood Chambers and Shallow Extracting Supers, of which the following is a specifica-v tion. 7 My invention relates to combs for brood chambers and shallow extracting supers.- It

has to do with the provision of a comb of novel material and construction designed to possess all of the advantages of the combs now generally used in the bee industry and in addition to; possess numerous other advantages.

. In the industry as organized at present, the wax comb is the one most generally used. One of the very great disadvantages of the wax comb arises fromthe fact that it cannot be readily. cleansed. For instance, when thelarvae are attacked by European or American foul brood, it becomesinecessary to remove the waxcomb and destroy it. It is possible to melt this wax and reform it for subsequent use and this is commonly done. However, this is a very material source of expense in addition to the other obviously undesirable features such as the necessity for of wax, when initially placed in position :must be supported by wire framework and the strands of this wire frame work must be embedded in the sheet of wax.

Furthermore, the"-.uncapping of the honey in a wax comb inevitably results in ajagged formation on the surface of the comb with the result that subsequent uncapping operations are rendered still more diflicult. In addition, the-removal of queen cells during the production \of extracted honeyis a'source of great nuisance to the bee keeper and this is particularly so when he is using wax combs.

These difficulties have been somewhat recognized in the past and I am-familiar with the provision of aluminum combs. These aluminum combs doubtless possess some advantages but theycan only'be used in the very mild climates. For one thing,-

theyare very greatly subject 'to telnpera- Specification ofLetters Patent. t t 22, 92 Application filed January 24, 1921. Serial No. 439,351.

in freezing of the bees who are unable to overcome this quality of the aluminum. Furthermore, after the cleansing of an aluminum comb, an unnecessary length of time must be consumed in the return of this comb to normal temperature. I I

I have solved the problem indicated above by the production of a non-metallic comb that is of sufiicient lightness and rigidity to lend itself fully to the production of extracted honey. Preferably, I provide a comb which is made. of celluloid and I have found that the celluloid which is normally sold commercially in the open market is of such a material that it will standsubjection to cleansing by the application thereto or the lmmersion therein of steam or boiling water for a period of time amply. suflicient to render sterile any of the diseased spores that arise and attack the larvae in bee keeping. The term celluloid as used herein is meant to comprise and include cellulose derivatives or nitrated cellulose substances of a low degree of nitration, such as are ordinarily procurable in the form of transparent, translucent or opaque sheets or-other forms, this material beingof such density, strengthv and imv perviousness as to perfectly correspond to requirements; and the term celluloid is also 1 meant to include those compounds ofcelluloidderivatives and camphor which have been-treated or cured to eliminate the camphor odor. I

My imention therefore has to do with the provision of a comb made of celluloid and so man frame. Also, my celluloid comb is of sufl'icient rigidity that it may be removed,

cleansed by all normal" operations, and replaced in its frame" practically without deterioration.

The preferred embodiment of m inven v tion is-shown 1n the accompanylng rawmgs' whereln similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein Figure 1 1s a comb removed.

Figure- 2 is a side elevationof the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of shown in. Figures 1 and 2.

the structures planview of my celluloid I11 e drawings, the comb is shown as comprising a body portion 1 of celluloid.

This body portion will be made of a thicki readily bored or placed in the side pieces of the frame which is to carry the comb.

I have found that celluloid is peculiarly adaptable to the purposes for which I am here using it because it possesses'a hard and comparatively impenetrable surface that is a relatively free from pores and that therefore lends itself very readily to cleansing.

For this reason, it will be possible to efi'ect such cleansing by a relatively short subjection to the cleansing medium utilizedurthermore, instead of exercising the great amount of time and care required in the removal of the queencells, these queen cells may be removed from my comb merely by pinching them off or flicking them ofi with the finger without any danger of leaving;

- ragged edges or holes such as is always prevalent in performing this'operation-upon a wax comb.

Another advantageof my celluloid comb arises from the fact that the uncapping of v the honey may be very readily performed without leaving any jagged surfaces, such as would remain in the similar treatment of a Wax comb. In addition my comb being nonmetallic offers no insuperable obstacle to the heating of the brood chamber by the bees such as is offered by the aluminum comb. On the contrary, my celluloid comb lends itselfreadily to this operation in all climates.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is As an improved article of manufacture, an artificial honeycomb formed of celluloid. In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

- HURVE L. CRESS, JR. 

